One World Trade Center regains status as New York’s tallest skyscraper

One World Trade Center, built to replace the twin towers destroyed in 2001’s September 11 attacks, has become New York’s tallest skyscraper.

Pedestrians cross 14th Street in view of One World Trade Center in New York (Picture: EPA)

On Monday construction workers were due to erect steel columns to take the unfinished skeleton of the building to over 1,250ft (381m); high enough to peak over the roof of the observation deck of the Empire State Building.

The milestone comes a day before the one-year anniversary of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden’s death.

Thousands of people died when the twin towers collapsed in the 9/11 attacks after al-Qaeda operatives flew two airline jets into them.

The new building overlooks the 9/11 memorial of two reflecting pools in the footprints of where the twin towers used to stand.

One World Trade Center is expected to officially open next spring (Picture: EPA)

The rooftop parapet of One World Trade Center will be 1,368ft high, the same height as the original building.

As well as an observation deck the 104-floor building will include 69 floors of office space, restaurants and television studios when completed.

Workers are still adding floors to the so-called Freedom Tower, which when finished is expected to be declared the tallest building in the US and the third tallest in the world if a 308ft (124m) needle on its roof is included.

Nathaniel Hollister, spokesman for the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitats, said: ‘Height is complicated.’